Senior Aquatic Quality Scientist

gov; Yellowknife; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Government of the Northwest Territories seeks a Senior Aquatic Quality Scientist to lead water quality and aquatic health monitoring programs. The role oversees a team of staff and contractors and coordinates strategies, policies, and projects across the GNWT.

The Senior Scientist stays current with Indigenous knowledge, research methods, and monitoring technologies, and communicates results through reports and publications for diverse audiences.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree (M.Sc.) in environmental science or water management with at least five years in water quality and aquatic sciences.
• Experience in aquatic environment sciences, water quality and biological monitoring; experience with Indigenous communities and other government staff.
• Equivalencies may include a B.Sc. with seven years of progressive experience in water quality and aquatic sciences.
• Assets include experience writing peer‑reviewed publications and presenting results to colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic scientific oversight and supervision for water quality and aquatic health monitoring programs.
• Lead and manage multidisciplinary teams and collaborations with internal and external stakeholders.
• Plan, design and oversee implementation of monitoring and research projects.
• Publish and present results in technical reports, scientific papers, or plain language reports.
• Engage communities and Indigenous governments to support monitoring and research in the NWT.

Skills

Water quality

Aquatic science

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Scientific publishing

Education

MSc in environmental science or water management

BSc with 7+ years in water quality/aquatic sciences

Job description

Department: Environment and Climate Change

The mandate of the Department of Environment and Climate Change is to manage land, water, air, wildlife, and forests. This includes promoting, planning, and supporting the wise and sustainable use of natural resources, and protecting, restoring, and stewarding the environment for the social and economic benefit of all Northwest Territories residents.

Job Information

The Senior Aquatic Quality Scientist is the principal water quality and aquatic specialist within the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and leads and manages a team of staff, contractors, and working groups to develop, implement and coordinate territorial strategies, policies, programs and projects that support the aquatic monitoring goals and objectives of the GNWT.

The Senior Scientist coordinates, leads, plans, designs and is responsible for overseeing the implementation of all water quality and aquatic health research and monitoring programs initiated by the Water Monitoring and Stewardship Division. The Senior Scientist must keep up to date on research, science, Indigenous knowledge, new monitoring technologies and new analytical methodologies related to water quality and biological monitoring. The Senior Scientist presents and publishes results that can be in the form of technical reports, scientific papers, or plain language reports on the water quality, aquatic ecosystems, and aquatic ecosystem health in the NWT.

The Senior Scientistcollaborates closely with colleagues in the Division, other divisions and GNWT departments, federal agencies, other provinces/territories, and Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations, and engages with communities and the public because of the impact of water quality on drinking water and traditional foods (e.g., fish, wildlife).

Key Responsibilities

• Provides strategic scientific oversight and supervision to the design and implementation, evaluation and integration of water quality and aquatic health monitoring and research programs.
• Provides specialized advice, as the GNWT's subject matter expert on water and aquatic quality, to internal clients, technical committees, and external stakeholders.
• Promotes monitoring and research partnerships and collaborations.
• Develops communications and publishes and presents scientific findings and data from monitoring and research across the NWT.
• Manages financial and administrative functions to provide effective and efficient services within budgetary frameworks.

Key Qualifications

• A graduate degree (M.Sc.) in environmental science or water management, with at least five (5) years of progressive experience in water quality and aquatic sciences.
• Relevant experience may include experience in aquatic environment sciences, particularly water quality and biological monitoring, experience building relationships, particularly with Indigenous communities, but also academic researchers and other government(s) staff.
• Equivalencies may include:
  • An undergraduate degree (B.Sc.) in environmental science or water management, with at least seven (7) years of progressive experience in water quality and aquatic sciences.

Assets include:

• Relevant experience writing peer-reviewed scientific publications and presenting the results of scientific work to colleagues.
• Relevant experience working with communities and Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations on monitoring and research programs in the NWT.
• Relevant experience managing multidisciplinary research teams and scientists.

GNWT Inquiries

Inquiries Only:

Department of Finance
Government of the Northwest Territories
YELLOWKNIFE CENTRE 5TH FLOOR
BOX 1320 YELLOWKNIFE NT X1A 2L9
Tel [phone] Extension 14106
Fax [phone]
[e-mail]

Note: If you do not receive electronic notification confirming receipt of your application, please follow up via telephone.